Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (Print Version)

Moist bundt bursting with fresh lemon and crunchy poppy seeds finished with sweet lemon glaze.

# What You Need:

→ Cake Components

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
06 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 cups granulated sugar
08 - Zest of 2 lemons
09 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1 cup whole milk
12 - ¼ cup fresh lemon juice

→ Lemon Icing

13 - 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
14 - 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
15 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10-cup bundt pan thoroughly, ensuring all crevices are coated to prevent sticking.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds until evenly distributed. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. The mixture should appear pale and increased in volume.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - In a measuring cup, combine milk and lemon juice. The mixture may slightly curdle, which is normal.
06 - With mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk mixture to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
07 - Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and smooth the top. Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then carefully invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Add more lemon juice as needed to reach a thick but pourable consistency.
10 - Drizzle icing over cooled cake and sprinkle with lemon zest if desired. Allow icing to set before slicing.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is incredibly moist with a tender crumb that keeps for days
  • Fresh lemon zest and juice create bright flavor that feels like spring on a plate
  • The crunch of poppy seeds throughout adds satisfying texture to every bite
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not optional here. Cold butter or eggs will not incorporate properly leading to a dense cake
  • Grease your bundt pan liberally even if it is nonstick. Get into every crevice and flute
  • Let the cake cool completely before icing or the glaze will slide right off instead of setting
03 -
  • Use a pastry brush to get into all the pan crevices when greasing
  • Zest your lemons before cutting them to make juicing easier
  • Rotate the pan halfway through baking for even browning

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